Bourn Airfield New Village A Spatial Framework & Infrastructure Delivery Plan Supplementary Planning Document Adopted October 2019 1 Executive Summary For further information please contact: Greater Cambridge shared planning policy team Introduction Tel: 01954 713183 The South Cambridgeshire Local Plan was adopted in September 2018. Email: [email protected] Policy SS/7 allocates land south of the A428 at Bourn Airfield for a new village of approximately 3,500 dwellings in addition to a range of supporting South Cambridgeshire District Council infrastructure, services and facilities. This Supplementary Planning South Cambridgeshire Hall Document (SPD) has been drafted to guide the implementation of the new Cambourne Business Park village, providing more detail to the adopted policy. Cambridge CB23 6EA What does the SPD say? The SPD provides an overview of the site context and key issues to be addressed, noting the location of the site immediately to the east of Cambourne and west of Highfields Caldecote. The vision for the new village is: Bourn Airfield will be a distinct new South Cambridgeshire village acknowledging its historic past but with its own contemporary identity. A diverse, yet integrated community, with a range of facilities and services to complement, not compete with, existing local provision. Well connected to the wider area by high quality public transport and providing employment and homes to support the Greater Cambridge economy. The village will have a vibrant and strong heart, supporting healthy, active and inclusive community lifestyles and providing a high quality of life for its residents in a beautiful contemporary landscape setting. The village will be embedded in a network of multi-functional green infrastructure, which is accessible and sustainable, being integrated with the natural environment. Supporting walking, cycling and public transport as the preferred mode of choice for travel for people within the new village and beyond, and facilitating a move towards net zero carbon lifestyles through an innovative approach to planning, design and construction. i This vision is further supported by six strategic objectives: The SPD sets out the expectations in respect of achieving high levels of sustainable construction, but also looking to the overall layout of the 1. A Well Connected Place new village to provide opportunities for innovation and creative planning. 2. Vibrant, Prosperous and Inclusive There are exciting opportunities for the new village at Bourn Airfield to 3. Healthy, Active and Resilient incorporate energy generation and efficiency measures that will mean the new village becomes an exemplar development in moving towards net zero 4. Locally Distinctive carbon lifestyles. 5. Responsive and Sustainable 6. Cohesive, Well Planned and Well Governed The Infrastructure Delivery Plan identifies the necessary supporting facilities and infrastructure that will be required to ensure the new village is successful and cohesive. These elements include a secondary school and The Spatial Framework which is set out in a plan establishes the broad two primary schools, a village centre and additional neighbourhood hub structure for development of the new village along with the indicative with community facilities. Also, improvements to existing pedestrian, cycle positions of key land uses, primary movement, and green and blue and bridleway routes and the creation of new links in and around the new infrastructure. The Framework is supported by a series of guiding principles village. There will be a wide range of green infrastructure, including parks and spatial fixes, which are key to the delivery of a successful place. and sports pitches to support a healthy lifestyle for its residents. The new village will form a street network that integrates movement and place, in an environment that promotes walking and cycling. The delivery of the Cambourne to Cambridge High Quality Public Transport route will provide two stops to the new village. One of the stops will be adjacent to the village centre, where a number of retail, commercial and community uses, in addition to the secondary school, will be located. These facilities will lead to the Runway Park, reflecting the alignment of the former north-south runway and providing a substantial linear park. ii iii Foreword This Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) concerns the Bourn Airfield New Village. It has been prepared by South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) and our consultants Arup. The document provides guidance about how the new village should be designed, developed and delivered in accordance with Policy SS/7 of the adopted South Cambridgeshire Local Plan (2018). It is informed by survey work and analysis. iv v Contents 1 Introduction 3 2 Site Context 11 3 Vision & Objectives 25 4 Spatial Framework 29 5 Creating the Place 33 6 Delivering the Place 73 Appendices 93 VI 1 1 Introduction Figure 1 | Strategic Location 1.1 Background This SPD has been prepared in partnership by Arup and South Cambridgeshire District Bourn Airfield has been allocated in the Council (SCDC), working in collaboration South Cambridgeshire Local Plan (2018) with technical and community stakeholders, for the development of a new village of and the site promoters. approximately 3,500 homes, together with associated community facilities and The SPD has been subject to wider public infrastructure improvements (Local Plan consultation (see Sections 1.4 and 1.7 for Policy SS/7: Bourn Airfield New Village). As further information on the SPD process and a major development site, it represents a engagement). significant opportunity to deliver an example of excellence in sustainable development The SPD is a significant material and healthier living, which will make a consideration in determining any planning significant contribution to the long-term applications for the development of the site. development needs of the Cambridge area. The Bourn Airfield New Village Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) expands upon Local Plan Policy SS/7 and provides additional details and guidance relating to comprehensive development and delivery of the new village and the creation of a successful place. Figure 2 | Policy SS/7 Allocation 2 3 1.2 Purpose & Scope 1.3 Key Issues historic settlement patterns (and on- 5. Relationship with the existing going growth of Cambourne) will be a employment site The purpose of this SPD is to ensure a The success of delivering a new village fundamental consideration in determining comprehensive approach to masterplanning will be dependent on a variety of factors. the physical relationships, context and An existing manufacturing use, under and development of the new village, in Several key delivery issues have been setting between new and existing places. separate ownerships, is located towards a manner which is responsive its local identified for the SPD to address: the north-eastern corner of the major context. It provides clarity to assist The development of Bourn Airfield development site. The design and layout developers, landowners and delivery 1. Delivering a strong community with its should not result in the coalescence of of development will need to consider stakeholders in creating a place that own identity settlements. In particular, there should how to accommodate or integrate the integrates new housing with a range of not appear to be a continuous ribbon of employment uses should they remain land-use, infrastructure, landscapes and It will be important for the new development along the A428, as required in their current format, expand and re- existing communities. community to establish a distinct by Section 6b of Local Plan Policy SS/7. develop, or vacate the site. sense of identity. Due to the location Each settlement should be defined by The SPD provides a clear vision, and of the site, and given its proximity to substantial structural landscape. This will include consideration of the framework for planning the new village and surrounding villages, a balance needs visual and aesthetic impacts, amenity sets out broad delivery mechanisms. to be struck between creating a new 4. Supporting a shift towards sustainable issues (including noise and air quality), place with its own unique identity and access and movement and the need to retain suitable vehicular The SPD is structured to provide a clear building an appropriate relationship with access for future residents and visitors to explanation of how the new village should the form and character of existing local There is significant opportunity to the new village. be developed: settlements and landscape. create a well-connected and sustainable development through the promotion Successful comprehensive delivery 1. Site context outlines existing land-uses, This SPD sets out an overall of high-quality pedestrian and cycling of this site will require engagement, landscape, heritage assets, access infrastructure requirement necessary for connections and improved public collaboration and co-ordination between and connectivity, and relationships the new village, focusing on what will transport infrastructure. The success site promoters and landowners of both to nearby communities, as well as be required early in the development of this will be dependent on resolving the principal site and employment opportunities and constraints for the to help secure the foundation of strong existing movement and access sites to ensure that the new village is site; community cohesiveness, as well